After not playing for four weeks, there was a question about how effective Air Force goaltender Billy Christopoulos might be in back-to-back Atlantic Hockey Conference games at RIT.
The senior answered that question emphatically Saturday night, stopping 31 shots in a 3-0 shutout of the Tigers at Rochester, N.Y.
Christopoulos, who earned his sixth career shutout and first of the season, was particularly sharp in the first period, when RIT outshot Air Force (8-6, 8-4 AHC) 14-6. He was especially effective on penalty kills, when he faced 11 of the 31 shots during the five power plays by the Tigers (6-6-1, 4-4-1 AHC).
“We had to weather the storm in the first period,” coach Frank Serratore said. “RIT played a terrific game and deserved a better fate. But they ran into Billy the Greek. We just had to get through that first period.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a better goaltender performance in any game I’ve coached. For most of that game, they were pitching and we were catching.”
Evan Feno scored the go-ahead goal in the second period for the second night in a row, and he added an empty netter with 1:02 to play in the game. Feno, who missed the three games before this weekend due to a lower-body injury, has a team-high eight goals.
Fellow senior Evan Giesler scored a power-play goal early in the third period to give the Falcons some breathing room and help them win their sixth consecutive game on the Tigers’ home ice.
Especially good
To be good on the road, strong special-teams play is essential, and the Falcons got that all weekend, killing off all nine Tigers power plays while scoring on two of their seven chances (one each night).
Air Force ran its string of successful penalty kills to 19 in a row and has an overall success rate of 88 percent. The power play now sits at a shade under 21 percent.
Feno, whose goal 8:43 into the second period was all the Falcons would need, came after he retrieved a rebound of his own shot and beat RIT goalie Logan Drackett (21 saves) on a wraparound. Freshman Keegan Mantaro picked up his first NCAA point with an assist on the play.
Feno also had an assist on Giesler’s goal, passing to Brady Tomlak, who was stationed down low and took a hit to make a pass to Giesler at the top of the crease. The co-captain wasted no time burying it at 4:53 for his fourth goal of the season, three of which have come on the power play.
Air Force’s three stars
- Billy Christopoulos. The senior, who returned Friday after missing four games due to illness and injury, was superlative, making 31 saves and keeping the game scoreless when RIT brought the house in the first period.
- Evan Feno. Another returnee from injury, the senior center had three points, including the winning goal for the second night in a row.
- Brady Tomlak. The junior set up a goal and was 10-3 in the face-off circle.
Up next
The Falcons play host to Mercyhurst at 7:35 p.m. on Friday and 5:05 p.m. on Saturday at Cadet Arena. Saturday night’s game is the Teddy Bear Toss. The Lakers are coming off a sweep of Bentley.
©First Line Editorial 2017-18
